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Beach Homes

SecondShelters.com loves to bring you truly exceptional homes. This Jacksonville Beach listing is perhaps the most talked about and anticipated listing in northeast Florida in the last several years.

Jacksonville Beach is on A1A, bordered to the north by Atlantic Beach, and to the south by Ponte Vedra. “Jax Beach,” as the locals call it, is a beachside sweet spot. The beaches to the south and east of A1A are protected preserves. There is no chance a residential tower or tacky souvenir shop will ever pop up and block your stellar view.

Ono Island is the most exclusive island in the Gulf Coast. Situated between Old River and the Intracoastal Waterway, Ono is a narrow sliver of paradise, just 5.5 miles long. Only 800 home sites comprise Ono’s residential-only island. Of those, less than 30 percent sit on premium waterfront lots. This private, gated island is second home to titans of industry, celebrities, musicians, and retired professional athletes. However, there is an unspoken rule of Ono Island for residents: We don’t drop names or discuss the locals. It’s one of the big reasons Ono Island is so prized. It’s private — very private.

If you love Hilton Head, but hate the traffic, Ono Island might just be your perfect Second Shelter.

Opening this month: The Residences at Seafire on Grand Cayman Island,We’ve been following the Dart Real Estate (neé Dart Realty) project (so easy to access via direct flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport) since its inception – luxury residences affiliated with the Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa on Grand Cayman Island, which offers homeowners unlimited access to all the amenities and services of the AAA Five Diamond-rated resort property: three signature restaurants, an 8,500-square-foot spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and, of course, a spectacular beachfront on famed Seven Mile Beach on the western shore of Grand Cayman Island.

As a child, my family piled into the car for a summer beachfront vacation on the shores of Cape Cod. The drive from Chicago was as you might expect when two children and a dog are in the back seat. The dog often stood between us looking out of the windshield while my brother and I took turns pushing the dog’s butt into the other’s face. Ahh … youth before the iPad.

Our destination was a grouping of small weathered beachfront cottages in East Sandwich, Mass. Imagine my surprise when I saw that a few of those cottages were for sale. At two bedrooms and one bath, these 400-square-foot retreats only lasted until teenagerdom made them uninhabitable for four adult-size people. At that point we moved on up to the deee-luxe 700-square-foot model.

All of Cape Cod is beautiful, but the seaside town of Chatham, Massachusetts, is particularly charmed. With storybook houses and the landmark 19th-century Chatham Lighthouse, it’s a destination for many vacationers looking for peaceful relaxation and gorgeous surroundings.

Located on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, Chatham was first settled in 1664 by the English. Its population of 6,125 swells in the summer months with tourists, many of whom have bought a home in this picturesque, tony town. It’s rumored Harry Connick, Jr., has been one of them.

We’ve found two homes in Chatham, one a splurge and one a steal. See how you can get a taste of Cape Cod living with these beauties.

The Four Seasons Resort & Private Residences Anguilla beckons with crystal turquoise waters, pristine white beaches, and sleek modern style in this elevated seaside retreat on the southwest shore of Anguilla. The British overseas territory is in the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles of the British West Indies and encompasses just 35 square miles, most of which is on the main island. No cruise ships or casinos are allowed here, so residents and visitors enjoy peaceful, unspoiled beaches, boating, fishing, snorkeling, horseback riding, and posh resorts in uncrowded splendor.

Yikes, that arctic blast made me long for a warm beach with a tropical breeze! Time to head for Seven Mile Beach, named by Travel and Leisure as “The Caribbean’s Best Beach.” The destination I am longing for? The Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa, Grand Cayman, the first new hotel in the Cayman Islands in a decade. Developer Dart Real Estate opened the boutique hotel just this past November, and announced the launch of an affiliated residential option: The Residences of Seafire, 62 luxurious modern units in floor plans ranging from 600-square-foot studios to 4,000-square-foot, four-bedroom abodes that share the resort’s landscaped gardens and pools, panoramic views, and open access to gorgeous Seven Mile Beach.

Click here for a peek at pics of this posh paradise, enhanced with famed interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullards’ Carribean-inspired public spaces and the stunning natural beauty of the setting: (more…)